About Me
Barry Ronan is an artist from the Aran islands writing and recording original music in Irish and English since the 1970's. His song 'Máirín', which he wrote about his sister and best friend who tragically passed away when they were both young, is still loved in Connemara in particular and is played regularly on Raidió na Gaeltachta.
After releasing the single 'Gave My Soul To Rock And Roll/ Gonna Be A Star' in 1981 his debut album 'Tráth' was released on the the Gael Linn record label in 1983 and was recorded in the famous Windmill Lane recording studio. Produced by Nicky Ryan (Enya, Christy Moore), the album was ahead of its time as it featured 10 original, Irish-language contemporary songs all written and composed by Barry Ronan. Production of the album also involved Fairlight programming and arrangements by Paul Barrett (U2, Daniel Lanois), Don Harris on drums and Pearse Dunne, the album concept was by Bernard Harris. Other releases after this included 'Ag Do Beo Beathaíoch' in 1983 and 'Millionaire' with B-Side 'Timebomb' in 1986. Barry competed in the 1989 RTE Eurosong contest in the Olympia Theatre with his song 'Uaigneach', the contest was broadcast live on RTE One.
Barry was involved with the Irish music and dance show 'Ragús' and composed the theme music for the show which has toured the world for over a decade. In more recent years he played formed a two-piece band with Cathal Jack, joined occasionally by Connemara musician Sonny Colm Learaí and has been playing sessions with The Mulkerrin Brothers and Lohco in Joe Wattys. has passed the live music baton on to his sons Cathal and Padraig and nephew Ronan who are all currently active in the music industry and indeed he has performed with them in the Dublin venues The Cobblestone and Whelans as recently as 2019.
In 2020 Barry Ronan and his son Padraig (Jack) signed a music publishing deal with London based Beautiful World Publishing "In what is undoubtedly a fairly unique event, both Padraig and his dad, have both signed up to a publishing deal with Beautiful World Music". Barry contributed two songs to Padraig's album 'Making Sand' which was the RTE Album of the Week in September 2020 and he is also currently collaborating with more artists in the contemporary and country music scene.